Step



June 2s, 193:3..y F, J, 'MACHQVEC 2,122,040

STEP

Filed oct.l r1o, 193e ATTORNEY.

Patented June 28, 1938l STEP. Fred J. Machovec, Monterey,

Calif.

I' Application october-10,' V1936,sarm1 rfa-105,024

v claim;

This invention relates to steps and particularly to a step for automobile house trailers or the like adapted to be folded into an out of way position when not in use. 1" o.

An object' of the-inventionis to provide a step for vehicles,'suchas automobile: house trailers,

wherein the step is'held .fast b oth in its extendedf and in its inoperative positions,v and which carlbe quickly and `easily moved into and out of operative position belowthe door-:opening of said vehic e. j

Another object of the invention is to.4 provide a.:

foldable or collapsible; supportfor a'step which canv be attached conveniently, below lthe door Aopening `of a vehicle, and'which vcan be easily manipulated .and positively heldv both ,in operative and inoperative positions without the use of clampsor clasps Or .the-lik'e, and in which the weight o n the step assists in holding lit still more 2oz `firmly unfolded. v 1 ,y

Another; object of this inventionis to provide a step for vehiclesfsuch as trailers andthe like-1 which yis highly useful and simple in construcf tion. Convenience of arrangement,.1i ghtness and i comparative inexpenseof manufactl'lre-are` f urtherobjects which have beenborne in niindfin, development `of-Uthe inventhe production and tion.

I am aware that some changes may be made in, the general arrangementsand combinationsof` the several devices and parts, as well. asv in tlleA detailsof the vconstruction thereof without `de parting from the scope of the present invention as set forth inthe following specication;-and

limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the saiddevice-and p-artsas de-. v

scribed in the said speciiication,v nor.do I- confine myself.; to the exact detailsof theconstruction -of vthe said, parts' as illustrated in'l the accom,- panying drawing." V

with thaforegoing and other objects' in viem which will be made manifest in thefollowing def tailed description andspecii'lcally pointedout'in -ment `ofthe invention, wherein:

Figure lisa fragmental .perspective view of;a vhouse trailer showing my step inoperative posiwayposition. Y Figure 3 is a sectional View, showingfthe step sin. extendedzoperatve, posfltiarl.'e.;

as denedinthe following claims ;k hence I do not I the appended claims, reference ishad. tothe ac companylng drawing `forthe illustrative embodij- Figure Zisa sectionalview, 'showing .thefstep n collapsed or folded under its frame inv anout of'.

(o1. v2250-106): l. g Figure' 4is a front View offythe extendedstep, and-.1 o t Figure 5 is a fragmental-.viewof my device showingtherocking linkand its spring.

In carrying out my invention I makeI use ofr .a frame, made of .spaced frame members, such asa pair ofspaced angle bars 9 attached .to the underside off a` floor board IIor thelike bottom memn berofa vehicle and particularly'fof` an vautomobilefhquseitrailer-I2. The frame is located-near a'v side of the trailer anddirectlyfbelowthe'openingofv the usual door I3. IThe frame is fixed relatively t o the trailer I2 and'is concealed bef- .j

neathits floor. v.. .A tread 'I4 vis made of aboard I6 coveredat the top by asheet of rubber II and held together eachside'. of the tread'l extends an upwardlypivotedto each bar 9 near theouterend Ao f the lattersoasto entend `downwardly androck in aA substantially vertical plane. The upper ,end of each link 2| is pivoted at 22 `to the adjacent bary to but spaced from the inner edge'of said vtread tread I4.

The freeendof yeach arm` I9 is pivoted at24 to the free end of a guideflink -26gwhich latter is v flange of; the adjacent bar. 9 so that each guide link 26 rocks in a planeparallel with the plane offthevertical` flange ofthe` bar 9 andwith the plane of Yrocking-of the link's,..2I. Each. guide link 26.., is Vc apableof turning around its pivot 2'I on al half circle turn belowthe frame `so that it may project, toward or away'from -the door I3 in its .opposite positions. As the guide links 26 Arock""f'1'"c` 1`n one extreme position rto the other the pivoted ends'ofthe arn1`s^|9 are caused to move wardly into thel concealed' position shown in Flgure 2 or., outwardly`- and 'downwardly into.l operavtivepiosition. as shown in Figure 3. j I

pushing the tread' I4` through'its full movement, and "in iorder to prevent, accidental folding or un-V folding, ,a coil spring is provided on each baril..V Each coil "spring 28 extends'in' substantial paral- `lelismwith the adjacent link26 and in a direction thee-nd for each spring 2s farthest from Athe doorv I3.insmfl'xedlyA secured l.to the adjacent, bar 'andi by .a.rnarginal,1ianged metal frame- I8. From 9.and the lower endof each link 2|is.pivoted1. 1t o...`

the outside of the treadr Mata fulcrum 23near u I4. f Thereisa rocking link 2| on each side of; the;r

pivotednear its other' end at. 21 totheverftical on an arcuate path and the arms I'9and the tread s Mlare moved 'as auniteither inwardly and up' I In. korderito kavoid the necessity of vpulling or'.

Aaway from theldoor' I3.. The inner end, n'amely 26 to the complete end of its turn in the respective* the outer end of each spring 28 is hooked on a bracket 29 which latter is so fixed on the link 26 that its spring holding point is between the pivot 27 and the free end of the link 26 and is offset to one side of the center line of the pivot 21. The offset of the point of the bracket 29- is such that in the concealed or collapsed position of the step the point of the bracket 29 is below the pivotal center line of the link 26, and in the operative or unfolded #position of :the stepfthe point of f k the bracket 29 is above said pivotal center line. ,Consequently after the link 26 is initially turned past its vertical position in either direction the coils.

spring 28 urges and automatically snaps the link directions and tends to hold it fastfthereyag-ainstj the frame. The relative positions of the bracket 29 are shown in detail in Figure-5,V wherein theM position when the.. step is unfolded is shownin full lines, and the position when the step is concealedfis shown inYbroken-linesi In operation the entire unit is attached under; neath` thelfloorof 3thetrail'er and in alignment with the `door sol that-thframefis entirely'coni cealedf; The tread I4 and the' arms?r lil actJas a,A rigid unit, It` is "to-bef'noted VthatJ-the upper' corners of vthe-armslQabut against thef-fr'am'e, members, 'also that the pivots '24 inf this? folded j position are-slightly-abovethe pivots- 27 so thatv the links-26 -arefinV compression and-'are further prevented fromA turning by thelsprings 123;" AThus the-1 entire unit isvheldin its concealedpositin without any rattle and without any dangerfof accidentalunfolding or dropping.

yIniorder to move -th'e tre'a'difll -into operative position it; is merely `neces sary tog reach insidef under the vtreadgl 4 andpullits inneredge; namelythe edge farthest "from the door l ddwnwardlyf thus theendsof theguide l-lin'k 26' are turned be? low tl`1 epivots`-2l against theactionof the `springs 28 and the lentire unit movesfdownwa'rdly andV awayjfromjrame;toward theoutside.A After the links 26' `are. moved fpastf substantially a -quarter circle turn the springs 28;'s'napth'e same outwardly and upwardly.thereby fm'ovingthe arms I9 toward the' outside;v ,Thegr'ocking-links 2| cause the -fulcrum 23"to 'shift downwardly and outward-f` i ly away from the frame until the treadfll pro;- jects beyond,4 thel side :of the trailer Abelow fthe.,4 dooril as Lshown inFigures 1 and 3. In this-operative or. extended position. any weight' onf the:` tread I4 exerts al downward force andtheleverg' action around the Afulcrumszt; transmits an upf ward 'forceto the. free ends .of ,thejarms l 9Qwhich in .turn firmly abut` i against the underside of` the frame... Anyjlateralforce onthe outergedgejof the tread l4,is alsoresistedbyithe linksZlgi Thus the step isheldjfast in;its' operative position,u In order to jag'ain fold th-ejstepi into'jconcealedj position itis' necessary toA applylanjllpwa'rdand 1 inward push to' the lowerrlouter `edge ofthe tread I4'. ASuch directed folcepreferably j applied'by the foot; turns' the lso..called lever around the fulcrum ,23 jso as Ato move th'ejendsjof the arms I9 downwardly" andon anmarc. inwardly as the links.

2 6 turnwaroundftheir" pivots 2T.", After passing the vertical position. around the pivots. 214 the springs 28`.snajg .tl'reA entire unitj'into theiolded, concealed position., During this folding" movement therocking or .spacing glinks 2l also swing,

. The step heretofore described is'easily.attached` in place andwhileit is selflocked'in its extreme 'conc'ealedand extended positions yet it canbe folded or unfolded with the exertion of very slight directional force. The device is simple in structure, it does not require any adjustment or any tying or clamping in its various positions yet its accidental folding or unfolding is prevented.

Having thus described my invention what I now claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a foldable step, the combination `with afframesecured on a: vehicle-,f of "as tread, a'jpair off; rocking links.. extended from the frame downwardly and being pivotally connected to the opposite sides of the tread to provide a shiftable fulcrum therefor, a fixed arm on each side of the tread` being extended upwardly substantially from..=the fulcrum of said tread, another pair of spaced links on the frame adapted for substantial1y-aha1f circle rocking and being pivotallyconnected to the respective arms, and

a springI to4 urge each of said second links to- Wardtheiframeswhen said Vsecond links are. moved past substan'tiallyfaquarteriturn: in either direction."`

2, In a of the character xdescribed," the combinationwith framemembers, of a support element,v aftread formed oniuthe outside' end of the element, the'linner vportion .1 of said .element-v being "arrangedatian obtuse anglefrom `the inner end! of.: the!y tread I toward fthe frame, aA rocking fulcrurn.substan'ti'allyat the-'meeting line of vsaid treadiand said obtuse inner portion, and rockingmeans pivotally: connected, to" thejinner end lof the obtuse'l inner -portion* td guide said fendV i into abutting relation togsaid iframe on veither side of the'pivot of 'therockingsupportf 3. Ina step ofthe characterdescribedalframe,

a lever, va treadformeifom the outer portion f said lever,` the inne1j-portion of said lever being extendedupwardly-toward lthe frame, `a i shiftable fulcrum for s aidlever sc arrangedthat weight on-{Lth 1201) lofthetread in -operativeposition when sai`d-upward force-is exerted andY to -move fromvits folded#position-outwardly iandaway from saidjframevwhen a downward force is ex-y erted "on the inner portion of'the` tread, and

means to; urgeV the inner jend of the lever against thejfram -intheh4 folded position of theV tread.

et.v In a step ofthe character described,a frame,

a leven-a tread formed on the-outer portion of said lever, the inner part-ion of 'said lever being extended-upwardlytoward; the frame, a shiftablehfulcrum for saidlever so' arranged that weightJ `on` the--top of the tread lin operative position pushes the inner end lof the -lever towardthe frame and a substantially Vvupwardly4 exerted force onthe outer -portionwof the lever moves they innerendjoffthe lever-awayfrom the frame, and meansof-'fonnection betweengthejinner end of the lever and'said frame to'cause said tread and leverl to move inwardly fro-m'said operative po`I sition towardthe frame whensaid upward Vforce is exerted and tomove outwardly from-the folded positionand away from said frame when a downward force'is exerted lon-the inner vportion of the treadgandresilient yieldable means to urgel said lever tocompleteits motion from fuil o utward to 'full'inward position anclvicel versa after a` predetermined initialwmovement voi" the lever.

the inner end of said tread from the extended position and the frame to urge the lever inwardly and upwardly toward-the frame after an initial upward turning of the tread around said 'fulcrum, and to urge the lever outwardly and downwardly from its folded position after an initial outward pulll and turning of said tread portion of the lever around said fulcrum.

6. In a step of the character described, a frame, a lever connected to the frame by a shiftable fulcrum, an end of the Alever in extended position extending beyond the fulcrum outside and beyond said frame and the other end of the lever extending upwardly, below and toward the frame so that weight rested on said outer end of the lever urges theinner end toward and against said frame, a tread formedon said outer end of the lever, a rocking connection on the frame being pivotally connectedV to the inner end of the lever so as to guide the inner end of the lever outwardly or inwardly as the tread is pulled out from below or pushed in under the frame re-r spectively, said shifting fulcrum being adaptedy tov move downwardly away from the frame as the tread is pulled outwardly, and to move up-v wardly and toward the frame as the tread is pushed inwardly under the frame, and means to urge the inner end of the lever against said frame both inthe outer and inner position of said lever. l

` 7. In a o'ldable'step, a horizontal support, a tread, rocking means extended from the support downwardly and being pivotally connected to the tread to provide a shiftable fulcrum therefor, a'

fixed arm on each side of the tread extending upwardly substantially from the fulcrum of said tread, a pair of spaced links pivoted on the sup-` port and adapted for substantially a half -circle rocking movement, and beingV pivotally connected to the respective arms, and a spring to yurge said links toward the supportwhen they are moved past center in their pivotal movement in either direction. y o

FRED J. MACHOVEC. 

